2017 NFL Draft: Looking at mid-to-late round picks for the Chiefs
By Andrew Jones
Looking forward to the 2017 NFL Draft, here are some picks the Chiefs should consider in the mid-to-late rounds.
Most members of Chiefs Kingdom have been discussing Kansas City’s needs for the first two rounds. A lot of mock drafts have the Chiefs going after a corner, quarterback, or running back with either of their first two picks. It may be safe to say that if the Chiefs wait until the 3rd or 4th round for a quarterback, then he may not be ready to take over with just one year on the bench. I think the Chiefs will go with a QB and a CB with their first two picks. This leaves a possible eight more to shore up their depth.
The Chiefs will receive compensatory picks for the losses of Sean Smith, Chase Daniel, Donald Stephenson, and Tyvon Branch. That gives Kansas City one extra pick in the 3rd and 5th rounds as well as two more in the 6th round. History tells us that they will trade away at least one of their total picks. Also they lost a 6th rounder this season for tampering with Jeremy Maclin in 2015. With that and all current trade picks coming in 2018 the Chiefs should have 6 picks after round two.
If we assume that QB and CB are taken in the first two rounds then the needs are: guard, wide receiver, running back, defensive tackle, inside linebacker, and edge rusher. You may not consider edge rusher a need, but it is always a good idea to have more. The Chiefs can make the playoffs with their current roster but if they can get an impact player at least at running back and inside linebacker then things become much easier.
My picks are based on Matt Miller’s (@nfldraftscout) “Big Board Rankings” via Bleacher Report, since I trust his stuff more than anyone else’s.